Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Thursday 5 August 1999

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will call for an urgent review of EU Directive 91/630 titled "Laying down the minimum standards for the protection of pigs" to ensure that the standards of animal welfare imposed upon pig farmers in Scotland are equivalent to those imposed upon pig farmers throughout the European Union.

Ross Finnie: A review of EU Directive 91/630 is already underway. As the first stage of this review, the Commission's Scientific Veterinary Committee has submitted a report which highlights the welfare disadvantages of tethers and close confinement stalls and which recommends group housing for sows in which they can turn round easily.

  We are continuing to press the Commission to bring forward early proposals and have made it clear that we expect them to at least match the standards which already apply in this country.

Education

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements have been made to ensure that students applications for loans will be dealt with by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland timeously.

Henry McLeish: Eligible students entering higher education in academic year 1999-2000, and those who entered in 1998-99, are able to apply for means-tested help with their tuition fees and for a partly means-tested maintenance loan. The need to apply the means test to both elements of assistance has involved significant changes in the application process.

  The students affected should apply to the Awards Agency in good time for both tuition fee and maintenance support. Details of their entitlement will be notified to the students and his or her parents or spouse, as appropriate. The information on tuition fee support will also be passed to the institution concerned and that on loan entitlement to the Student Loans Company Limited.

  The necessary changes to the Agency’s computer software have been made and it is currently processing applications under the new arrangements. It has also engaged additional seasonal staff to meet the peak demand and it is accepting applications from students on the basis of conditional offers.

Employment

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address the unemployment situation in (a) Wigtownshire and (b) Upper Nithsdale.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive is very conscious of the particular employment problems of areas such as Wigtownshire and Upper Nithsdale. We will work with the local authority, local enterprise company and other local agencies to provide new employment opportunities in the area.

Employment

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures were taken to attempt to prevent job losses at the plants of UiE Scotland Limited in Clydebank and Greenock in the last year.

Henry McLeish: Employment levels at UiE and in the off-shore fabrication industry generally fluctuate widely as a result of changing world demand for oil and gas, and the exploration activity it generates. The Local Enterprise Network is offering its full range of retraining services for those affected by recent job losses at UiE.

Employment

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance it intends to provide to assist UiE Scotland Limited to continue as a major employer in Clydebank and Greenock.

Henry McLeish: Future investments by this company may be eligible for support from the Scottish Executive or its agencies under a wide range of programmes.

Employment

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional finance for job creation will be made available for Clydebank and Greenock.

Henry McLeish: The proposed new assisted areas announced in mid-July will mean that Regional Selective Assistance continues to be available widely in the Clydebank and Greenock areas. The Local Enterprise Company is also available to help.

Employment

Alex Fergusson (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has, in the light of the cut in European Regional Funding for Dumfries and Galloway, to minimise the effect of the shortfall and to improve employment prospects within that region.

Henry McLeish: While proposals for the new Assisted Areas to operate from 1 January 2000, announced recently, would reduce the population coverage in Dumfries and Galloway by a little more than half, substantial areas of economic development opportunity, the great majority of which have already benefited from Regional Selective Assistance, are still included. I have no reason to expect these proposals will greatly affect aid available to industry in the region.

  The population coverage in the UK under Objective 2 of the European Structural Funds will be reduced under the new Regulations. It is important to target carefully the areas to be nominated and identification of these areas is taking longer than had been expected. Every effort is being made to finalise the list as soon as possible.

Enterprise

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any businesses in Scotland which were made bankrupt as a result of the late payment of bills by local authorities in Scotland in the financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99 and, if so, how many.

Henry McLeish: Official Insolvency Statistics are published quarterly by the Department of Trade and Industry. There were 2,585 individual insolvencies (sequestrations) and 501 company insolvencies in Scotland in 1997-98 and 3,090 individual insolvencies and 569 company insolvencies in 1998-99.

  A further breakdown of this information is not available.

Finance

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive to update, in the light of the 1999 Partnership Agreement, the answers, and all tables, given by the then Secretary for State for Scotland in the House of Commons on 24 July 1998 in response to questions by Mr Browne on Public Expenditure and Local Government Finance (columns 138-144).

Mr Jack McConnell: As I said during the debate on Financial Issues on 24 June, I intend to make a statement in the autumn on the financial expenditure announced in the partnership agreement. The latest planned spending figures are given in the Departmental Report Serving Scotland’s Needs (Cm 4215).

Highlands and Islands

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average cost of each tourism-related job supported or created by grants from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Mr Rumbles.

Highlands and Islands

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average estimated cost of each job supported or created by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council or European Union grants to the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Mr Rumbles.

Highlands and Islands

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the assessment made by Highlands and Islands Enterprise of the number of likely visitors to the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The assessment of visitor numbers to the proposed Cairngorm Funicular Railway was undertaken as part of the economic appraisal of the project carried out by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. This is commercially sensitive information and it would not be appropriate for the Scottish Executive to publish it.

Highlands and Islands

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been spent by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on studies, research and other preparatory work regarding the proposed funicular railway in Cairn Gorm.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Mr Rumbles.

Highlands and Islands

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish details of any current or former Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board members who are shareholders of the Cairngorm Chairlift Company.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: None of the current or former Board members of Highlands and Islands Enterprise are shareholders of the Cairngorm Chairlift Company.

Industry

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it played in recent negotiations regarding the future of Kvaerner shipyard, Govan; what categories of aid it offered to each of the private sector companies involved in the negotiations, and what commitments it has entered into concerning future liabilities under any guarantees it has made, and to which company.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive was fully involved in latest negotiations. No aid has been offered to either company but GEC Marconi may, like any other company, be eligible for Regional Selective Assistance in respect of any further capital investment in the yard. The costs of any remediation which may be required in the future on the site would be met from the environmental improvement programme.

Industry

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Glasgow Development Agency or Scottish Enterprise have been required to enter into any aid or guarantee package as part of the outcome of negotiations with Kvaerner.

Henry McLeish: Neither Glasgow Development Agency nor Scottish Enterprise have entered into any aid or guarantee package following these negotiations. GEC Marconi may be eligible for support from these agencies towards its future investment projects.

Industry

Ms Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify the number of jobs currently occupied at Kvaerner shipyard, Govan, the estimated number of jobs saved by its intervention, and whether there will be a net loss of jobs.

Henry McLeish: Kvaerner Govan currently directly employs 780 people at the Govan shipyard and a further 200 people are employed on site by sub-contractors.

  The number of direct jobs at the shipyard will be determined by the new owners, GEC Marconi, on the basis of what is required to undertake the work on hand.

Planning

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will confirm levels below which companies affected by planning blight can claim compensation, and whether it will consider re-examining these limits.

Sarah Boyack: In order to claim compensation for a non-domestic property which is affected by planning blight, the annual rateable value of the property must not exceed £21,500. This limit was set in 1995. There are no plans at present to alter the limit, but compulsory purchase, compensation and related matters are currently under review.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to discuss Scotland’s performance in the Marine Conservation Society’s survey of beaches and other such surveys with the Scottish Tourist Board, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, water authorities or any other agencies.

Sarah Boyack: We are actively seeking to improve the standards of our bathing waters. One of our targets is that all Scotland’s beaches will meet clean water standards by 2005.

  To help achieve this, over the coming months we shall be encouraging partnership approaches such as that taken by the South Ayrshire Council, the West of Scotland Water Authority and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) in relation to the problem of west coast bathing water standards. We shall continue to explore with the water authorities, SEPA and others what can be done to improve bathing water compliance. These discussions will take account of such surveys as that conducted by the Marine Conservation Society.

Tourism

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highland and Islands Enterprise’s estimate of the likely numbers of visitors to the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm is based on the estimated or actual number of visitors to other existing Highland tourist attractions.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Mr Rumbles.

Tourism

Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how Highland and Islands Enterprise’s estimate of the likely number of visitors to the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm compares with the independent assessment carried out by the former Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourist Board and the reason for any difference between these two figures.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I will ask the Chairman of that organisation to write to Mr Rumbles.

Transport

Mr John Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to establish an independent legal inquiry to investigate (a) the award of a contract to construct the Skye bridge under the Public Finance Initiative and (b) the toll order on the Skye bridge.

Sarah Boyack: Partnership For Scotland commits the Scottish Executive to review the effects of the reductions to discounted tolls on the Bridge made in 1998 and to freeze the tolls at their current levels in cash terms for the remainder of the contract. These measures give direct benefit to users. We do not intend to establish an inquiry into the issues referred to, but I draw Mr Munro’s attention to the detailed examinations already carried out by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee.

Transport

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are ongoing legal proceedings between the constructors of the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow and the Scottish Executive or any local authority.

Sarah Boyack: There are no legal proceedings in progress against any of the parties that were responsible for the design and construction of the Kingston Bridge.

  The Secretary of State inherited two court actions against the consulting engineers who designed the bridge when he took over responsibility for this structure when the M8 through Glasgow was adopted as a trunk road on 1 April 1996. The actions were settled out of court in 1997 without any admission of liability on the part of the defendants. Each party bore its own expenses. Beyond that the terms of the settlement are confidential to the parties.

Transport

Mr Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will initiate a study into the viability of re-opening a rail link between Perth and Edinburgh via Milnathort, Kinross, Kelty and Dunfermline and what effect the link would have on traffic density on the Forth Road Bridge.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no plans to commission a study on the re-opening of a railway from Perth to Edinburgh via Kinross.

  I understand that Fife Council has commissioned two transport studies relevant to the question. The South Fife and Forth Estuary Public Transport Study includes an examination of the feasibility of re-opening the Cowdenbeath to Kinross railway line to passenger traffic. The Fife and South Tayside Rail Study is looking at ways of improving rail services on existing lines in the Fife, Perth and Dundee area. The Scottish Executive awaits with interest the final outcome of the studies and Fife Council’s views upon them.

Transport

Mr Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether dates have been set for the commencement and completion of the replacement for the Kincardine Bridge, whether the costs of upgrading the A977 North of Kilbagie roundabout have been established, and what the potential economic benefits of these developments are to North West Fife.

Sarah Boyack: A preferred line for a new crossing of the Forth at Kincardine was announced in November 1998. Consultants are currently being appointed to take forward the complex issues of ecological, aesthetic and engineering design. Draft orders under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 are expected to be published in spring 2001 and, if there are objections to the orders, a public local inquiry will follow. The construction timetable depends upon completion of these statutory procedures and upon the availability of trunk road resources. Construction is unlikely to be able to start before 2003.

  The proposed new crossing will connect the existing Bowtrees roundabout at the junction of the M876 and A907 on the south bank of the estuary to the Gartarry roundabout at the junction of the A977 and the A907 on the north bank. The A977 north of Gartarry roundabout is not a trunk road and any future improvements are a matter for the relevant local authorities.

  Previous studies of local economic development concluded that increased tourism and the attraction and retention of mobile investment would be the principal economic benefits to the adjoining areas from the construction of the new crossing.

Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will oppose any calls for the privatisation of Caledonian MacBrayne.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive have no plans to privatise Caledonian MacBrayne Limited.